Inside America's $18B show of force: USS Gerald R. Ford leads strike group of F-35 stealth fighter jets and fleet of warships deployed in response to Israel attacks - with enough firepower to rival entire nations

The United States has deployed a carrier strike group led by the world's largest warship to the eastern Mediterranean in response to the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's latest and most advanced aircraft carrier, is headed to the region as part of a carrier strike group comprised of the military's most advanced hardware, including a fleet of destroyers, guided-missile cruisers and fighter jets. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the deployment on Sunday, hours after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that has killed hundreds of people, including at least 260 people at a festival near the Gaza border. Israel has declared war on Hamas and is poised to mount an invasion of Gaza.